Ahead of the European Athletics U20 Championships in Jerusalem from 7-10 August, last year's European U18 champion Mattia Furlani and Jana Koscak and leading Israeli prospects Hilla Azran and Eden Sela talked to the press about their hopes and expectations for the upcoming championships at the official press conference on Sunday (6) morning.
Mattia Furlani announced himself to the world by winning gold medals in both the long jump and high jump at the European Athletics U18 Championships. His winning jump of 8.04m in the long jump was especially impressive as Furlani had only taken up the event at the start of 2022.
One year later, Furlani will be focusing solely on the long jump in the Givat Ram Stadium and the 18-year-old begins as the outstanding favourite for the title.
On returning to the stadium where he won two gold medals last year…
“I’m so glad to return here. I’ve grown up and I have more experience. I feel really good as I have nice memories of this place. I want to give the best of myself and to repeat what I did last year.”
On his ultimate dream in athletics…
“For every athlete, it’s the Olympic medal. It’s the best medal.”
On his fast 200m [21.12] at the start of the season…
“This year I’m only working in the long jump. This year I haven’t worked in the high jump. The 200m was part of the preparation for the long jump. I don’t want to run another 200m because I was so tired at the end! Maybe next year I will prepare for this discipline if it’s possible.”
Jana Koscak might be the youngest athlete in the heptathlon line-up but the precocious Croatian is the clear favourite to win gold. Koscak won the European U18 heptathlon title last year and has since improved to 6293 points in Gotzis, a world U18 best.
And it could be something of a family affair in Jerusalem as her sister Klara is the European U20 leader in the 100m hurdles.
On her preparations for the European Athletics U20 Championships…
"I started preparing in May. I have worked hard on the events I’m not so good at - shot put and 800m - I think I have so much room for improvement. I actually thought I would compete in the 100m hurdles or the high jump here but the heptathlon - that’s what I really love. We’ll see if the shot put has gotten better since Austria [where she set a world U18 best of 6293 points at the Gotzis Hypo-Meeting.]
On her idol in athletics…
“My hero has always been Nafi Thiam. I like her humbleness. I just think she is such an incredible person.”
On her sister being ranked first in the 100m hurdles…
“My sister Klara is here and my dad is also here. The whole family is here. Klara is competing in the 100m hurdles and she is the European U20 leader and I think she will make it. Keep your fingers crossed and root for the Koscak family!”
On how she celebrated her gold medal in the heptathlon in 2022…
“I bought myself some Ben and Jerry’s ice cream!”
On branching out beyond the heptathlon…
“I also do the 400m hurdles and I will probably also do the triple jump at the end of the season. I want to try every event - maybe not hammer or walking but something similar to heptathlon. I don’t want to focus on one event because I’m also really good at the high jump but the heptathlon is my passion.”
Hilla Azran is one of Israel’s main prospects in the long distance events in Jerusalem. She will be competing in the 5000m at next week’s European Athletics U20 Championships.
On competing at home in the 5000m…
“It will be really exciting for me. I hope the cheering and support will help me run faster. I’m really happy my family will be able to see me race in such an important race.”
On the hot and humid conditions in Jerusalem…
“We’ve trained for it all summer. We knew these would be the conditions.”
On how leading Israeli distance runner Lonah Salpeter has influenced her career…
“About Lonah, in the race where I got the limit for Jerusalem, she helped me and paced me to run the limit so I know her. She is my inspiration.”
Eden Sela could be one of the busiest athletes of the entire championships. He will be competing individually in the 100m and long jump and he is also part of Israel's team in the men's 4x100m relay.
On winning the 100m and long jump titles at the Israeli U20 Championships…
“To be national champion in both the 100m and long jump is amazing. Last year I didn’t get the title so it was really amazing to get this title. I think I can improve. My main goal here is to qualify for the long jump final and get through the heats and semifinal of the 100m.”
On his friendship with world U20 200m champion Blessing Afrifah…
“Blessing is my friend. We are in the 4x100m team. When I saw the record [his European U20 200m record of 19.96 at the World U20 Championships] I was surprised but I see him in training, he trains really hard so I saw it coming.”
Steven Mills for European Athletics